Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 6y

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino: This is the 'best moment of my career'

Roberto Firmino has told Goal that he considers himself to be in the best moments of his career and insists he feels no pressure to match Mohamed Salah's goal-scoring form.

Firmino's 23 goals in all competitions so far this season is the best return of his professional career, with the Brazilian also providing 12 assists this season.

Salah, meanwhile, has netted 36 times for Liverpool this term, meaning the Egypt international has scored more goals than any other Liverpool player during their first season.

When asked if Salah's record-breaking heroics provided any added pressure, Firmino said they do not.

"We have very good chemistry here at Liverpool," Firmino said. "Many speak of the strength of our attack, which also has [Sadio] Mane, but we have a team full of great quality that is effective in attack.

"We have to think collectively. The more players score, the better. Liverpool are the ones who win in this situation."

With the help of the prolific front three, Liverpool are pushing for a second-place finish in the Premier League and find themselves in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

"It's the best moment of my career," Firmino said. "I'm happy because things are very positive in my life -- on the personal side and also on the professional side.

"The good moment our team is in helps a lot, too. The team fits together very well. Klopp is a great tactician and a great coach."

Liverpool lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January, and Firmino said the playmaker's departure led to a successful tactical alteration.

"We changed the way we played after his exit," Firmino said. "Which team in the world would not like to have a player of the quality of Coutinho? But he continued his life at Barcelona and Liverpool remained strong, as we always were."

Coutinho became the Premier League's top scorer from Brazil at the end of last season and had scored 41 goals when he left for Barcelona. Firmino, who has scored 35 league goals for Liverpool, said that surpassing Coutinho's mark is something he hasn't considered.

"I do not dwell on that," Firmino said. "I just worry about playing well and helping Liverpool go as far as possible in the Premier League.

"If that is achieved by me scoring goals, even better. Thank God, the goals are coming. Winning the title is difficult this season, so we will fight to secure a Champions League place again. That's one of the goals."

In February, the FA said they would be taking no disciplinary action against Firmino in regards to an allegation of discriminatory conduct made by Everton's Mason Holgate during a Merseyside derby on Jan. 5.

"I always felt calm about [the allegations] because I knew I had not said what they were accusing me of," Firmino said.

"I have suffered racial prejudice and I know how painful it is. People need to take this issue more seriously and engage in this fight against racism."

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